"Piledriver" is the codename of AMD's processor micro-architecture that succeeds "Bulldozer", which AMD is referring to in a company presentation slide as "2nd Generation Bulldozer". This, even before the first Bulldozer processors in the AMD FX Processor series begin shipping. Piledriver isn't an evolution over Bulldozer as such, and is more of a incremental update to the architecture.

Piledriver features an improved core design to bring about performance improvements of 10% over Bulldozer. It features two new instruction sets: FMA3 (Fast Memory Access 3) and Converged BMI (Branch if MInus). It will feature an improved IOMMU (memory mapping unit), referred to as IOMMU v2. Apart from these, Piledriver will fit into the existing ecosystem of AMD FX Processors, consisting of socket AM3+ and AMD 9-series chipsets. AMD is currently referring to the platform Piledriver-based processors will form around themselves as "FX Next". There is no reason for you to skip Bulldozer for this, our sources told us that Piledriver CPUs can be expected only by mid-thru-late 2012. AMD FX Bulldozer processors are on course for a mid-October launch.

The one thing i notice most in that picture is the tiny text at the bottom saying "based on AMD projections using digital media workload" to me that makes me think in most situations there will possibly be no performance increase.

I have to wonder if piledriver will improve on power consumption or overclocking due to being the second version AMD has made on 32nm but i would not expect it.

Not this bit of news on it's own, but this news, coupled with the delays, lack of proper benchmarks, no real raving about how great the new architecture is by AMD (as one would expect), etc.
The signs (AMD refraining from much hype) just seem to point towards disappointment.

And enough with the frickin slides/graphs already! I get that at AMD they sure know how to use powerpoint, but damn...I think that they might actualy beat the world record in number of slides of a product before that product actually hits the market (imho)

Well, that disappoints. PD was really looking to be so much more when it was previewed months ago. But now its looking to be just another stopgap like BD. Just trying to survive while Intel remains in the lead. Bit embarrassing they are even admitting its only a 10% improvement.

Glad it seems it won't be using an entirely new socket, but instead of "FX Next" lets have an "FX Now".

More and more their APUs seem to be looking a lot more interesting than these lines. Can't wait to see the 2nd and the 3rd gen APUs.

Why this marketing PR for next CPU when existing commitment isnt in the market? Perhaps it is so that people will make a positive commitment to AMD Socket AM3+ today knowing that they can upgrade later?

IMO it would have been better for AMD to make a COMMITMENT-OR-YOUR-MONEY-BACK guarantee to stick with AM3+ for the next 2 or 3 CPU generations, and state this fact alone, rather than trying to tease with Piledriver. After all, if Piledriver is more than a year away but can only achieve 10% then it is failed Moores law and demonstrates that the existing architecture is at a dead end, just like Netburst.

But BOTH Intel and AMD are guilty of NOT sticking to sockets and changing them much too frequently. The best sockets were Socket 7 that were compatible with both Intel and AMD, and s775 that lasted a few generations of Intel CPUs. But s1366? That didnt last long. Neither did AM2. Complete disaster. And that's why I worry about AMD3+. Is it really going to last longer than Bulldozer? Yes, now we know it will. It will last until Piledriver to gain 10%. Meh.

Secondly, the most important thing is performance per dollar. Most people aren't willing to pay huge premiums for the fastest CPU or GPU. If the price is right people will buy it. If AMD has competitive products in the mainstream pricing segments then they will do just fine. That is, after all, why AMD is still in business. The only real uncertainty is whether AMD will be able to compete with Intel's enthusiast products so they can make bozos like us happy.

Not this bit of news on it's own, but this news, coupled with the delays, lack of proper benchmarks, no real raving about how great the new architecture is by AMD (as one would expect), etc.
The signs (AMD refraining from much hype) just seem to point towards disappointment.

I'm sorry but where did AMD OFFICIALLY state that there were delays? They never mentioned OFFICIALLY when a release date would occur. These were all rumours/made up by the media.
Benchmarks CAN'T be released until NDA is up either.
I can understand the frustration but maybe stop and think about all of this and wait for official news not from "trusted unnamed sources".
I am waiting to see BD in action as much as everyone else to see as to whether I go BD or SB. The one thing I love about the idea of going BD is the fact I could just sell off my BD processor next year and get a PD and drop it in.

I think this sort of thing could contribute to disappointing initial sales. Just like that errata bug news for 2011. Seems like none of the new platforms intro'd this year have had a good start but at least 1155 is on sale now. If I upgrade I won't be doing it until ddr4 chips and boards hit as at least then BD, 2011, and pci-e 3.0 should be all sorted out. Things seem to be too influx right now to be worth investing in.

Well, this is going to be less than a year from Bulldozer, so can't expect that much to happen, since it's just been tweaked with the same architecture and manufacturing process. I'm afraid though that these are going to get clearly outperformed by Ivy Bridge, which is also coming in around Q2 2012. Not good for consumers that want a good old price war to get us cheaper chips. But these in a Fusion APU paired with a 7xxx-series GPU would be pure awesome.

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This is just a piss take now, they release graph after graph after graph suggesting the idea that the new bulldozer architecture is going to be amazing, yet we are yet to see a single proper benchmark..

Now they say their even newer range is going to be faster than the range that hasn't even been released, by 10%!! 10% doesn't mean jack shit if we don't know the performance of bulldozer!

I am really hopeful about the new bulldozer range and I really hope it proves to be the game changer but at the moment, im doubtful.